COVID-19 is a key aim of GenOMICC

Susceptibility to COVID-19 is almost certainly, in part, genetic. GenOMICC can find the genes that cause susceptibility, which may help us to prioritise treatments to respond to the global crisis. GenOMICC was designed for this crisis. Since 2016, the open, global GenOMICC collaboration has been recruit patients with emerging infections, including COVID-19. All patients with confirmed COVID-19 in critical care are eligible for GenOMICC; please recruit them as normal, following local infection control precautions.

In particular, we aim to recruit every intubated patient with COVID-19. If you need to prioritise, please start with the youngest.

In the UK, recruitment to GenOMICC will supplement other studies (e.g. ISARIC 4C, RECOVERY, and REMAP-CAP), enabling better prioritisation of treatments and faster answers. We will co-enrol and combine samples. Telephone consent is allowed, or witnessed consent forms (from outside the PPE area) can be used to record consent.

Obtain blood sample according to the patient's weight (>40kg:
9mls; 20 to 40kg: 7mls; 10 to 20kg: 4mls). Blood can be obtained in
any EDTA blood tubes. Depending on what system is used in your
hospital, you will probably have to send us several tubes. Try to
get as close as you can to the required volume, because this gives
us the best chance of getting high-quality DNA.

Take all four of the of GenOMICC sample stickers from inside one of
the return GenOMICC specimen boxes that we have sent to you.

Use the stickers to label the consent form and the blood tubes. Destroy any
unused stickers.

Store consent form in local site file.

Put blood tubes in the plastic bag with absorbent material, seal and package into
the GenOMICC postage - paid specimen box and return to the Wellcome Trust
Clinical Reseach Facility (WTCRF), Edinburgh as soon as possible.